The United States has taken a significant step involving the family of the late Iranian military figure Qasem Soleimani, revoking the lawful permanent resident status of two of his relatives and placing them into custody.
According to an announcement made Saturday by the State Department, the individuals affected are Soleimani’s niece, Hamideh Soleimani Afshar, and her daughter. Both had previously held U.S. green cards, granting them the right to live in the country permanently.
Federal agents arrested both women late Friday in Los Angeles, and they are now being held by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) pending removal from the country.
According to the State Department, Afshar has been a vocal backer of the Iranian government while residing in the U.S. Officials say she used social media to spread messages favorable to Tehran, including praise for attacks on American troops and facilities in the Middle East, support for the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), and criticism of the United States as the “Great Satan.”
She also reportedly expressed strong backing for Iran’s current leadership.
The department noted that Afshar maintained a comfortable lifestyle in Los Angeles even as she posted content aligning with Iranian regime positions online. Her husband has additionally been barred from entering the United States.
